What is a Perkins Grant?

I have been told, via a comment left by an anonymous source, that the MNHHS Greenhouse was funded by a Perkins Grant and that it was not financed by my "tax dollars".  My tax dollars were never a concern for me, by the way.  But, in the effort of being better informed, I did a little research into the Perkins Grant Program. 

• What is a Perkins Grant?  Per the website:  "Synopsis of the Carl Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998....Purpose: To develop more fully the academic, vocational, and technical skills of secondary and post-secondary who elect to enroll in vocation technical educations programs..."
• How is a Perkins Grant Funded?  Per the website:  "Under the Perkins Act, federal funds are made available to help provide vocational-technical education programs and services to youth and adults."

The one little tidbit I found interesting was "federal funds".  So, where do "federal funds" come from?  I briefly read through A Guide to Funding Resources, but didn't really feel that it spelled out an answer for me.  I'm going to have to make an inference on this one.  I'm going to go out on a limb and say that "federal funds" come from paychecks in the form of state and federal taxes.  If I'm wrong, please point me in the right direction.  Knowledge is power, and all that jazz.